If you could choose one of the 2014 All-Stars to train with, who would it be?

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Ten Questions with Dublin's Cian O'Sullivan

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Ten Questions with Cian O’Sullivan.

People say that your wedding day or the birth of your first child is the best day of your life but I will find it hard to emulate that feeling on the pitch when the final whistle went. I wouldnâ??t trade it for anything.

Cian O Sullivan, Dublin

Dublin's All-Ireland winning defender, who lines out in the Allianz Football League against Kerry in Croke Park on Saturday night, is the first player under the spotlight this year in www.gaa.ie's new weekly feature.

Q: Would you swap your All-Ireland winner’s medal for this weekend’s Lotto numbers?

A: That’s a tough question. I have to say no. Winning the All-Ireland is one of those things that money can’t buy. It was undoubtedly the best moment of my life. I’m only 23 right now. People say that your wedding day or the birth of your first child is the best day of your life but I will find it hard to emulate that feeling on the pitch when the final whistle went. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Q: What sport would you play if you lived in a different country?

A: I suppose I played a bit of soccer when I was younger and in school. That was the first game I played when I was around four or five. My dad was the manager of the team so I’ll have to go with soccer.

Q: Do you think you’ll get involved with your club or in coaching when you retire?

A: It’s not something I have considered, but I would definitely like to get involved in the club. It’s great to see the work and effort that goes on behind the scenes to keep a club running. It’s absolutely fantastic. My dad is heavily involved down in Kilmacud Crokes and he gets great enjoyment out of it. It’s a great past-time for him and something I’d like to do in the future.

Q: If you could take one former player out of retirement and drop him into the Dublin squad, who would it be and why?

A: I think I’d take Maurice Fitzgerald. My parents are from Kerry and when I was young I used to go to a lot of the Kerry league games – my dad used to bring me along. Maurice Fitzgerald was in his prime then and was a fantastic player to watch, he was so skilled and so assured on the ball. It’d be fantastic to get the opportunity to play with him.

Q: Is the inter-county season too long?

A: For me since underage each season has rolled into the other. From Sigerson into inter-county or from U21 into inter-county. From that respect there hasn’t really been a break bar the last three months. It really depends on how the inter-county team does or your club team does.

Q: What’s the most memorable game you have ever played in?

A: I think my answer to question one covers that...

Q: What’s your opinion on GAA players wearing tights and snoods?

A: I prefer to refer to them as thermal gear! I’ve definitely worn tights in training, but I don’t know if I would wear them in a match. Michael Darragh Macauley seems to be a fan of them for the matches – and the snood as well. Come January you’d have to be wearing tights because the weather is dreadful, especially for the early morning sessions.

Q: Who do you least look forward to doing one-on-one drills with in training?

A: There’s nobody you look forward to doing them with. I’d say the big lads like Ross McConnell or Eamonn Fennell can be a bit of a handful because trying to dispossess them is enough trouble without having to get around them. The big lads just stand in front of you and push you back.

Q: Would you rather take and ice bath or do a 6.00am training session?

A: An ice bath definitely. A minute in the ice bath sounds much better.

Q: Would you rather take a five-foot putt to win the US Masters or a 21-yard free to win the All-Ireland?

A: The five-foot putt would be more pressurising because it is an individual sport, you are on your own and you don’t have the backing of a team. You have a caddie and a backroom team but you don’t have the backing of your team-mates. With the 21-yard free, I’m sure ‘Clucko’ (Stephen Cluxton) would be well placed to answer that question! Being a footballer, I would have to say the 21-yard free.